After Charlie Kirk’s assassination, Republicans and Democrats on Capitol Hill expressed extreme concern for the state of political discourse in the country.

The killing of right-wing activist Charlie Kirk on Wednesday at a college in Utah is the latest in a string of acts of political violence in recent years that have spanned the political spectrum.

Political violence is hardly unprecedented in the United States. In fact, the country has “a long, dark history” of violence that has “struck the highest level of American politics,” said Kevin Boyle, a Northwestern University historian.

Utah Gov. Spencer Cox said that a family member of the suspect's reached out to a family friend who contacted the Washington County Sheriff's Office.

Tyler Robinson grew up on a quiet street in a quiet corner of Utah. He played video games and some neighbors said his family had previously attended services at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.